What do Trump supporters think of his Cabinet picks?
Trump supporters generally have a positive view of his Cabinet picks, although there are some variations in support levels for different nominees.
Overall Approval
Trump's voters and Republicans overwhelmingly approve of his handling of the presidential transition and his Cabinet selections. A CBS News poll indicated that Trump's voters and most Republicans view his Cabinet picks as good choices, with a net-positive response among Americans who have heard enough about them1.
Specific Nominees
- Marco Rubio: A significant majority of Republicans (57%) believe Rubio, nominated for Secretary of State, will do a very good or somewhat good job23.
- Elon Musk: There is strong support among Republicans (78%) for Musk's potential influence in the Trump administration23.
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: A majority of Republicans (61%) approve of Kennedy's nomination for Secretary of Health and Human Services, despite controversies surrounding his views on vaccines23.
- Dr. Mehmet Oz: Oz, nominated to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, also enjoys support from a majority of Republicans (58%)2.
Controversial Picks
However, there is less consensus among Republicans on some of the more controversial nominees:
- Tulsi Gabbard: Only 44% of Republicans think Gabbard, nominated for Director of National Intelligence, will do a good job23.
- Pete Hegseth: Hegseth, nominated for Secretary of Defense, has lower approval rates among Republicans, with only about a third approving of his nomination234.
- Kristi Noem: Noem, selected to head the Department of Homeland Defense, also has lower support, with 37% of Republicans expressing confidence in her2.
General Sentiment
Despite these variations, the overall sentiment among Trump supporters is that they want Trump to have more presidential power and are generally optimistic about his administration's ability to address economic issues, such as lowering food and grocery prices1.